Policies for Strengthening Markets for Recyclables: A Worldwide Perspective

Many national, regional, and local governments have introduced policies to encourage recycling. Their varied experiences allow examination of the effectiveness of alternative policy options. The conditions driving recycling, selection of pro-recycling policies, and recycling statistics are compared for 14 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and Oceana. The best policy for any particular country is a function of practicality, affordability, and political and social acceptability. National programs with the highest recycling rates typically target both supply and demand through incentives that encourage source separation and recycled content, with regulatory measures used to close loopholes and provide minimum performance requirements.